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book recommendation for poorly friend

14 replies

pipsqueak · 23/05/2006 22:21

good friend has just had a double mastectomy and is recuperating. she doesn't read a lot so am not sure about her taste but i would like to get her a sort of upbeat fairly light hearted book and am racking my brains as to what to get..she did do a degree in english lit but only reads stuff related to work and newspapers now as she works full time and has 4 dc. Any one got any ideas they would be willing to pass on? thanks xx

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acnebride · 23/05/2006 22:43

Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler? I was hoping for a plain old chick lit with this but it was higher quality than that so she might enjoy it. Actually I didn't love it! but lots of people did i think.

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acnebride · 23/05/2006 22:44

Ah, or Fruit of the Lemon by Andrea Levy. Couldn't get on with Small Island but this was semi or completely autobiographical, frothy, plenty of interest and really enjoyable.

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merlotmama · 23/05/2006 22:56

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. Very funny and also well written. (See reviews on Amazon). Story of elderly dad who takes up with a floosie really, who wants British citizenship and a husband with money. His two daughters - who don't get on, being v. different types of people - unite to try and avoid disaster.Am assuming English lit degree would mean low tolerance for poor writing style! Also feel chick-lit type lightweight stuff might just not engage someone who currently has her own worries. There again, I could be completely wrong and she might feel froth only thing she can cope with at the moment!
Sending best wishes to your friend.